I traced a coolant leak to one of the coolant system hoses that have one end going to the firewall and the other....somewhere on the lower passenger side portion of the motor, right next to a larger hose that comes out of the bottom of the radiator and both are connected to the same device. My basic skills (google-fu) tell me this is a heater hose. I found a ~3 inch crack, so I am going to replace it. However, the guy at autozone said the ones they have in stock are either 12 inches for the upper or 18 inches for the lower but I measured mine and even in a straight line it is closer to 2 feet. The actual hose that is on my truck (likely not OEM or even OEM spec since this truck has been ghetto rigged to death by the previous owner) is closer to 3 feet, but has what looks to me like unnecessary bends and added length.

Which one of these is the right one:

Heater to Water Pump
w/o Air Conditioning

or

Heater to Thermostat
w/o Air Conditioning

(the descriptions are probably enough for you guys, but I don't yet know where either thermostat or water pump is, though I am pretty sure it would be the water pump and the thermostat would be on the front side of the engine. However, the hoses based on that look backwards)

If there is somewhere cheaper, I am all ears but I have been unsuccessful in finding any. Or even if I could just cut a length of hose from Lowes or something, I can do that too. Any way to save a few pennies on this old beast is always good.

 

Without being there it would be hard to say which one to get.

Any auto parts store will sell heater hose by the foot, heater hose is not the same as "garden hose"
If possible remove the hose and take it, or a piece if it, with you to get correct diameter.


Now if the hose is longer than it needs to be.................can you just cut off the cracked end and reconnect it?
The routing of the hose needs to avoid the exhaust pipe and manifold, and needs to be placed so it won't be rubbed in one spot from engine vibration.